Welcome!
Our website is hard for us old-fashioned types to edit (www.gildedleafbindery.com), hence the Gilded Leaf blog! Even neo-Luddites can figure out how to post photos of new bookbindings, current projects, tools for sale, etc. We hope you enjoy.
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Aged Headband Cloth

I've found the last bit of a great cloth for making 19th century headbands. (Discontinued by the factory.) It features blue stripes and a stained/aged beige that makes the cloth look 100 years old; a perfect match for many books including family Bibles. It can be more deeply aged if needed, but looks great for many uses as is. It's 100% cotton, thin enough to form neatly over round or square cores (light shirt weight, not bed ticking). A 3" by 45" strip is $7 postpaid; enough for a lot of books. The top picture shows a similar cloth headband still attached with new material behind. The 2nd photo gives a sense of the stained/aged appearance. What's not easily apparent from the photo is that the "white" portions are not just beige, but have soiling and stains as part of the design. It's an unusual cloth; sort of like the ratty jeans so popular among today's callow and unkempt youth. If you'd like a much larger piece to make a pre-soiled filthy new shirt, just let me know. : )

About Me

I am a bookbinder, specializing in restoration and period-style leatherwork. I can be reached at (865) 621-7923. You're welcome to visit our shop in Maryville, Tennessee (just outside of Knoxville at the foot of the Smoky Mountains). Seems like I'm always there, except when I'm not, so you're well-advised to call for an appointment.

Bookbinding Tools For Sale

For sale or trade are a number of duplicate tools not currently needed in our bindery. (Down toward the bottom of my posts.) I've based prices on both what we need to get back out of them and at what cost they're currently available. So, prices are firmish, but if you wish to make an offer (or point out that we're over or under priced based on current fluctuations in the dollar, sunspots, etc.) have at it. I'm open to trades as well: bookbinding tools, unusual musical instruments... Currently at the top of my wish list are a Louet Vertical Plough and a full set of Uilleann Pipes.

If you're able to pick up here in Maryville, I have a couple binder's wooden type cases (narrower than printer's cases) with a lot of drawers, made from oak with metal handles.